Short answer
A smoke detector that chirps once every minute or so needs a new battery. Find which alarm it is, twist it off its base and put in a fresh battery of the type marked on it. Put it back and hold the Test button until it beeps loud. Still chirping? Check the date on the back: alarms over 10 years old need replacing. A loud, nonstop alarm is different: get out and call 911.
Safety first
A loud, continuous alarm means smoke or fire: get everyone out and call 911 from outside. Use a sturdy step stool, not a chair. Never pull the battery to stop the chirp and leave the alarm empty.
How to stop a smoke detector from chirping
1One chirp every minute: low battery
A single short chirp every 30 to 60 seconds means the battery is low. Stand under each alarm until you find the one chirping.
Read all the steps
- One chirp every minute: low battery. A single short chirp every 30 to 60 seconds means the battery is low. Stand under each alarm until you find the one chirping.
- Twist it off its base. From a sturdy step stool, turn the alarm counterclockwise and lower it. Hardwired alarms have a backup battery too.
- Put in a fresh battery. Use the type marked on the alarm, usually 9-volt or AA. Make sure it sits firmly and the battery door closes.
- Twist it back on and hold Test. Hold the Test button until it beeps loud, then let go. On many models, holding it about 15 seconds also clears a leftover chirp.
- Still chirping? Check the date. The date is printed on the back. Smoke alarms over 10 years old need replacing, the whole alarm, not just the battery.
- Still not fixed? Call an electrician Especially if: a hardwired alarm keeps chirping after a new battery and a reset.
Electricians near you
Share your location and we will show the nearest ones with their phone number.
Or pick your city:
If it keeps chirping after a new battery
- Hold the Test button for about 15 seconds, then test it again.
- Make sure the battery is new, the right type and fully seated, with the door closed.
- Check the date on the back. Past 10 years, replace the alarm.
- Some alarms have a sealed 10-year battery. When they chirp, the whole alarm needs replacing.
- A hardwired alarm that chirps with a new battery may need replacing. If you are not sure, call an electrician.
Chirp or alarm?
A chirp is one short beep every minute or so: the battery is low or the alarm is old. A loud, steady pattern of beeps is a real alarm: get out first, then call 911 from outside. On a combination smoke and CO alarm, a steady alarm can also mean carbon monoxide. Get out either way.
What not to do
- Do not take the battery out and leave the alarm empty.
- Do not paint over an alarm or cover it.
- Do not disconnect the wires of a hardwired alarm.
When to call an electrician
- A hardwired alarm keeps chirping after a new battery and a reset.
- Alarms go off again and again with no smoke.
- You want hardwired or connected alarms installed or replaced.
- An alarm is melted, discolored or smells burnt.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my smoke detector chirping?
Almost always a low battery. One short chirp every 30 to 60 seconds means change it. If it keeps chirping with a new battery, the alarm may be old or need a reset.
Why is my smoke detector still chirping after I changed the battery?
Hold the Test button for about 15 seconds to clear it, and make sure the battery is new and seated. If it still chirps, check the date: over 10 years means replace it.
How often should smoke detectors be replaced?
Every 10 years, according to the NFPA. The date is printed on the back of the alarm.
How do I find which smoke detector is chirping?
Stand under each one and wait a minute or two. On many models the little light flashes when it chirps.
Why do smoke detectors chirp at night?
As the house cools at night, a weak battery loses a bit of power and the alarm starts chirping. It is still a low battery: change it.
Do hardwired smoke detectors have batteries?
Most do: a backup battery for power outages. When it gets low, the alarm chirps like any other.
Sources
Checked October 24, 2026. Requirements and recommendations change: confirm them on the source site.